Public Relations | Press Releases

Release date 12-06-12

Nine Maine Colleges Recognized for Addressing Tobacco Use on Campus

BANGOR – The Maine Tobacco-Free College Network held an awards ceremony on the Great American Smokeout, November 15, to celebrate the efforts of Maine institutions of higher education to address tobacco use on their campuses.The event featured the announcement of the 2012 Maine Tobacco-Free College Network’s Gold Star Standards of Excellence Recognition Program award winners. Nine Maine schools and two campus champions were recognized for their achievements in advancing their campus tobacco-free policies and promoting tobacco-free lifestyles for their communities.

Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) in Fairfield was recognized for meeting ten of the ten Gold Star policy standards for its efforts to address tobacco use on campus. The College’s policy strictly prohibits the use of tobacco products or any object or device intended to simulate that use, including electronic cigarettes, except within the confines of personal vehicles. The sale, distribution, or advertisement of tobacco products is also prohibited on the campus.

Those recognized at the event included:

Gold: Kennebec Valley Community College

Gold: University of Maine at Orono

Gold: University of Maine Hutchinson Center

Gold: University of Southern Maine

Silver: Northern Maine Community College

Silver: Unity College

Silver: University of Maine at Presque Isle

Silver: University of New England

Bronze: University of Maine at Machias

2012 Gold Star Honorees:

Bruce Davis (KVCC), Tobacco Policy Committee

All Maine institutions of higher education, including colleges, universities, and technical schools were invited to participate in the Gold Star Standards of Excellence program.Award levels are based on best practice criteria such as tobacco-free campus policy, tobacco treatment information availability for students, faculty and staff, prohibiting tobacco product distribution on campus, and divestment of all tobacco investments.

“Colleges and universities seek to create a healthy and safe environment to learn, live and work.Addressing tobacco use on campus is an example of this commitment and benefits students, faculty, staff and visitors.We are pleased to be able to recognize the achievements of these schools through the Gold Star Standards of Excellence program,” said Sarah Mayberry of the Maine Tobacco-Free College Network.

The awards ceremony provided an opportunity for each school to share successes and challenges of their efforts to create a tobacco-free campus environment and promote tobacco-free lifestyles.While many acknowledged challenges faced when first adopting new campus policies and initiatives, all shared that addressing tobacco use on campus is an important health and environmental strategy for their schools.